The drills, which began at 8am (00.00 GMT), are also being viewed as a show of force against what Beijing views as moves by Taiwan towards formal independence.

Cui Tiankai, the Chinese ambassador to the US, on Tuesday reiterated Beijing's long-held view that Taiwan will eventually be reunited with the mainland, saying that China hoped for "peaceful reunification".

"But if someone tries to separate Taiwan from China, we will do everything that is possible to defend our sovereignty and territorial integrity," he added, as he answered questions at an event at Harvard University, according to China Review News Agency.

The Chinese military provided few details about the drills, which are taking place off the south-eastern Chinese city of Quanzhou, between two groups of islands that are controlled by Taiwan, but very close to China.

Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers a speech as he reviews a military display of Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy in the South China Sea last weekCredit:
Xinhua/Reuters

Arthur Ding, a military expert and Professor Emeritus of the Institute of International Relations (IIR) at the National Chengchi University in Taipei, said the drills "definitely target both Taiwan and the US."

He said: "China opposes any improvement of relations between Taiwan and US because, for them, it sends a wrong signal to the Taiwanese leadership who perceptively pursue a course of 'Taiwan Independence’.

Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen, second from left, inspects on a Kidd-class destroyer during a navy exercise in the northeastern port of Su'ao in Yilan County, Taiwan, April 13Credit:
Military News Agency

"Also, improved relations blocks the way for re-unification."

Prof Ding said Beijing believes that Tsai Ing-wen, who became Taiwan president in 2016, has adopted a policy of "comprehensive incremental independence".

He said "frustration broke" among China's Communist leaders with Mr Lai's comments last month.

"President Xi had to do something to answer domestic pressure, while not escalating tension in the Taiwan Strait and avoiding blame for causing tension," he told The Telegraph.

The aircraft carrier Liaoning and other vessels and fighter jets in the maritime parade conducted by the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy in the South China Sea on April 12Credit:
China ilitary Online/ ZLSY

Earlier reports that China's only aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, was to join the drill appear to be unfounded, Mr Cole said.

He also said that the People's Liberation Army (PLA) had failed in its attempts to cause alarm among Taiwanese people.

"The growing frequency of PLA live-fire exercises and passages near Taiwan — many of them in the West Pacific — in recent years, has, ironically, diluted the effectiveness of such propaganda efforts.

"Thus, if the aim is to spark a panic in Taiwan, Beijing is failing miserably."

Ms Tsai last week oversaw her first military exercises since she became Taiwan’s leader, although those drills did not involve any live fire.